Importing a used car to The Bahamas
Bahamas Customs publishes clear duty rates and takes entries online through a licensed broker. The age limit is the open question.
Age limit and steering
We could not confirm an age limit for used cars from a Bahamian government page. A US Commerce Department country guide on trade.gov lists motor vehicles 10 years or older as restricted. The Bahamas Customs restricted-goods page we opened showed no vehicle entry, and the Customs brochure sets rates for vehicles over 20 years old, which does not fit a 10-year ban. We found no steering rule.
Ask Bahamas Customs which limit applies before you buy.
Duty and charges
Duty is charged on the price paid. These rates come from the Customs Frequently Imported Brochure 2024:
| Vehicle | Duty |
|---|---|
| Electric or hybrid, up to $70,000 | 10% plus a $250 environmental levy |
| Electric or hybrid, over $70,000 | 25% |
| New car, 1.5 to 2.0L | 45% |
| Passenger car over 2L | 65% |
| Passenger vehicle over 20 years old | 65% plus a levy of 20% of landed cost |
| Cargo vehicle under 20 years old | 65% plus $250 |
Other charges:
- VAT of 10% on landed cost
- Processing fee of 1% of value, minimum $10 and maximum $1,000 on the C13
- Storage of $50 per week
- Security fee of $10 on a 20-foot container
Documents and clearance
A licensed broker files your entry through the Click2Clear system. Have these ready:
- Supplier invoice
- Freight bill or invoice
- Local landing receipt
- C13 entry (SAD)
- Customs condition report
Per the Customs procedures page, file the entry within 5 days of the cargo being discharged, with a C13 and a C43. Processing takes 2 to 24 hours. Goods not collected after 5 working days go to the Government warehouse.
Confirm before you ship
- Ask Customs for the age limit and the steering rule for used cars.
- The brochure shows VAT at 10%, but an older Customs procedures page shows 12%. Confirm the current rate.
- The brochure’s worked example adds up to $8,901 but states $8,691, so check any total with Customs.
- Bahamas VAT changed on some goods from 1 September 2025. Vehicles were not mentioned.
Sources
- Bahamas Customs: Frequently Imported Brochure 2024bahamascustoms.gov.bs, official
- Bahamas Customs: general proceduresbahamascustoms.gov.bs, official
- Bahamas Customs: prohibited and restricted imports and exportsbahamascustoms.gov.bs, official
- US Commerce Department country guide: prohibited and restricted importstrade.gov, US government